By JOHN M. ROMAN
jroman@delcotimes.com

HARRISBURG — The state House Tuesday afternoon passed by a 157-33 vote Rep. Greg Vitali’s bill to protect state forests from additional natural gas drilling until its impacts can be evaluated.

Vitali, D-166, of Haverford, who introduced the legislation, said he was “pleased that there was bipartisan support for my bill that would allow us to take a timeout to study the consequences of drilling in our state forests.” The bill now goes to the Senate for its consideration.

“I’m asking residents across the state to contact their state senator and urge them to vote for House Bill 2235,” he said. “It was a substantial margin of victory which is encouraging. It gives us momentum as the bill goes to the Senate.

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2010/05/05/news/doc4be0da63c1fb9...

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Seems to me that this is not bad news for the private mineral owners. Anything that encourages companies to pursue us, the private landowner, I won't argue with it.